711.00 Statement July 16, 1937/150
Statement by the Czechoslovakian Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs (Hodža) to the American Chargé in Czechoslovakia (Chapin)9
Under existing circumstances, the declarations of Mr. Hull, Secretary of State, assume an extraordinary importance, and may be greeted only with satisfaction, since they help to strengthen democratic impulses in international relations. They are received by Czechoslovak foreign policy with satisfaction all the more sincere inasmuch as Czechoslovakia has observed from the beginning the principles contained in these declarations which make a point of settling conflicts of international concern by pacific understanding and settlement or indeed to emphasize the sacred character of existing treaties and the impossibility of modifying them other than by reciprocal understanding.
It also does not cease to declare the value of the principle for economic understanding among nations to lower or suppress excessive tariff barriers.
I have no doubt that the good faith manifested by the United States to reduce or to increase their own armed force in accordance with the action taken by other States will be received with understanding by all those who have at heart a desire for collaboration by pacific means regarding which the Secretary of State, Mr. Hull, has so well explained the importance.
- Copy transmitted to the Department by the Chargé in his despatch No. 731, July 21; received August 10.↩